First Hostage, a J.B. Collins novel by Joel C. Rosenberg

Reporting from Jordan, journalist J.B. Collins finds himself the exclusive reporter for the story of the century – the President of the United States is missing and presumed kidnapped, while several other world leaders are gravely injured.  Handling this well could make his career!  That he and a few friends are suspected of orchestrating the plot and that his life is in imminent danger are just two tiny glitches in this otherwise golden opportunity – if he lives to publish his story!